I gave my 5 year old granddaughter a plastic newer "Featherweight" for her birthday. We sat down together and I taught her about needles and the harm they could do if you don't watch and be very careful. While I sewed she watched where I put my fingers, how I guide my material, etc. Well, whatever I said scared her and now she doesn't want to sew. We would spend hours in the sewing room when she had a plastic toy machine without a needle. Of course she has a 5 year olds ability to stay on task, so she will play with her dolls and then back to sewing and then back to something else. Now she won't sew. I'm going to take the needle out, remove the thread, and let her just guide the material through the machine. Anything to get her back to the machine.